Idemitsu + Munch for five more years

This January, Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS (IPN) entered into another 5-year sponsorship agreement with the Munch Museum.

This means that IPN will continue to follow the museum on their path to a new and larger exhibition space in Bjørvika.

The relationship between Idemitsu and the Munch museum started in 1991 when the refurbishment and extension of the current building in Tøyen was funded by Idemitsu Kosan, the parent company of IPN.

Since then, Idemitsu have continuously sponsored the museum.

In 2004, Edvard Munch’s masterpieces “Scream” and “Madonna” were stolen. When they were returned to the museum two years after robbery, the paintings had been seriously damaged. Idemitsu then financed the two-year restoration work for these two masterpieces.

Idemitsu’s decision to continue its sponsorship of the museum was welcomed by the counterparts in Norway. Museum director Mr. Stein Olav Henrichsen commented: “All of us working at the museum welcome Idemitsu’s support from our heart, and we are proud that we will continue to cooperate in the new museum as well.”

Idemitsu has a long tradition for supporting the arts and culture, both in Japan and in their areas of operation overseas.

The signing of the agreement, from left: Hiroshi Arikawa (Managing Director of Idemitsu Petroleum Norge), Rina Mariann Hansen (Vice Mayor for Culture and Sports, The City of Oslo) and Stein Olav Henrichsen (Director of the Munch museum)